Big Valley Christian softball takes D-VII section title in five-inning victory
After feeling the heartache of losing the 2023 Sac-Joaquin Section title, the Big Valley Christian softball team knew it was a feeling they did not want to have again.
So they went to work.
Head coach Eric Layman scheduled tough non-league games in 2024, playing playoff teams from higher divisions like Enochs, Patterson, Lodi and Oakdale.
The players vowed to “stay hungry”. Aiming to never take a game for granted and adjusting practice drills to challenge themselves, making sure they’re ready for the big game.
That big game came Saturday, May 18, at Cosumnes River College in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division VII championship. And the Lions delivered.
Top seed Big Valley Christian’s offense scored all of its runs in the first three innings and the defense did not allow a run as the Lions beat No. 3 Buckingham Charter 11-0 to claim the Division VII blue banner.
The Lions took home their second Division VII section title in three seasons Saturday. They beat Stone Ridge Christian in 2022.
“Our mindset coming in (to this season) has been don’t let up,” Layman said. “Stay strong, stay hungry, play our game. And every game, they have responded.”
Catcher Emily Avila added: “Last year was pretty rough. But this year feels good. Everyone’s healthy and we were able to give it our all throughout these games.”
Ava Hernandez pitched her second five-inning no-hitter this season and added 12 strikeouts. The only three Knights runners reached via walks.
Hernandez missed last year’s section title game, which ended in a 10-0 loss to Stone Ridge Christian, with an ankle injury. She says she worked hard this season to make sure she was available every time duty called. Hernandez, an Azusa Pacific University signee, has a 15-3 record in 20 appearances in 2024 with a 0.34 ERA.
“Everyone was heartbroken, I was devastated,” Hernandez said of the 2023 loss. “This year, being on the other end feels great. I came into this saying I’m gonna fight for my team, and we’re gonna win.”
The three seniors have been there for both of Big Valley’s most recent championships: Olivia Nelson, Hernandez and Avila, Hernandez’s batterymate.
Hernandez and Avila have been teammates, they estimate, for 10 years. They’ve known each other longer than that.
They played youth softball as a pitcher-catcher duo, which created a bond they say will last long after both are done playing the sport that brought them together.
“She’s just been there for me every step of the way,” Hernandez said. “She’s always cheered me on. We’ve had each other’s back.”
On the field, they are both four-year varsity players who have been to the mountaintop twice. For their careers, they have helped the Lions win 63 games in their four years so far.
“We’ve been super close,” Avila said. “Growing up, one of the best things that kept us together is we stayed on the same (travel softball) team throughout the whole time. People came and went on the team and we were the two that had been there since day one.”
The Lions’ offense showed up Saturday, putting them in control from the first pitch. Hernandez struck out the side in the first, second and fifth innings.
Eight players were responsible for the team’s nine hits, led by sophomore Ella Alavezos, who had a game-high two hits. Sophomore Macie Stephens drove in three runs, junior Cecily Fontana and sophomore Breese Johnson each drove in a pair of runs. Junior Morgan Merzon added an RBI. Avila, Merzon and Johnson each recorded a triple.
The Lions put up more than 10 runs for the sixth time in its last 10 games. They scored twice in the first, four times in the second and added five runs in the third.
“We’ve never had bats like this,” Hernandez said. “Every year I’ve been pitching, it’s been close games … this year I’m not as stressed. If there’s a runner on I’m like, ‘OK, that’s fine. My team’s got my back.’ They’ve definitely made me more comfortable in the circle.”
With Saturday’s win, the Lions also punched their ticket to the NorCal Regional playoffs. They did the same with their section title in 2022 and that season won the Division V Northern California title. They await their seed and opponent that will be announced by the CIF. Their first round game will be Tuesday, May 28.
“Our mentality has been working,” Avila said. “No expectations, just play our game, keep going hard the whole way and never letting up.”
